CONTACT:  JIM MORRIS
Director, Public Information
573-751-3469

Vol. 43, No. 36

April 23, 2009

20 High Schools Earn “A+” Designation by State Board of Education


The State Board of Education today voted to approve the designation of 20 Missouri public high schools as “A+ Schools,” based on the board’s standards.  As a result, eligible seniors in these schools may receive state-paid tuition assistance to attend a community college or technical school.

The A+ Schools program was created by state law in 1993.  It is intended to raise academic standards in participating high schools, improve the graduation rate and prepare more students for postsecondary learning and high-wage jobs. 

With today’s action by the State Board of Education, 274 public high schools have qualified for A+ status.   The newly designated schools are: 

  • Bayless High School, St. Louis
  • Crocker High School
  • Richland R-IV High School
  • Marion County R-II High School, Philadelphia
  • McDonald County High School, Anderson
  • Winfield High School
  • Oak Grove High School
  • North Harrison R-III High School, Eagleville
  • Hillcrest High School, Springfield
  • Kickapoo High School, Springfield
  • New Haven High School
  • Cuba High School
  • Bourbon High School
  • Blair Oaks High School
  • Billings High School
  • Chadwick High School
  • Archie High School
  • South Callaway R-II High School, Mokane
  • Woodland High School, Marble Hill
  • Savannah High School

This year (2008-09), the state is providing $25.2 million to underwrite the assistance for eligible A+ students.   Since 1997, more than 38,000 students have used the A+ benefit for at least one semester of attendance at a community college.

To qualify, high school graduates must attend an A+ school for at least three years, have a grade-point average of at least 2.5 on a 4-point scale, maintain a 95 percent attendance record, and perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring in the school district.

Members of the Class of 2009 who attend the newly designated A+ Schools will be eligible to use their state assistance as early as this summer, if they are ready to enroll in a community college.